As the title suggests my del sol with a b16a1 motor is in limp mode. It started after my tach began going up and down then it went into limp mode. The tach has been pretty normal since other than every once and a while it'll just drop. I'm assuming that issue is because the clip on my dizzy is cracked where the wires are and they just come undone a bit. But my car is still in limp mode sadly.

I've changed the O2 sensor and the TPS because I know they needed to be changed eventually since it's old, but the car is still limping. I've tried resetting the ECU and cleaning the iacv but other than fixing the idle the car is still having issues.

To my knowledge it could ether be the knock sensor going out or my catalytic converter being clogged.

The car still drives fine I just can't go faster than 60 mph because the tach will stop at 3.5k rpms
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Does anyone have any other ideas or can help me out?
thanks y'all

 

Throwing parts at the engine is NOT proper diagnostic progression. Let's start with something simple... like what codes are stored ?

 

So my car doesn't flash codes. Ether the guy I bought it from taped over the light or clipped a wire, but the car doesn't have a check engine light. Literally.

​​​​​​I've been testing parts and researching symptoms. But no way to check the codes.

 

It could also be your map or CKP sensor too?? When the tps was replaced I would assume you calibrated it correctly?
Does the CEL light on dash even work? Have you tried with the engine running, unplugging a electrical connector on one of the sensors to see if it lights up.. if not, well then there is something going on. If it does light up, you should be able to jump the service connector to get a code.
If by jumping the connector does nothing, trace the wires from the jumper to the ecu corresponding pin out and check for continuity. May have a break in the wire.
Another thing is, do you have the correct ecu for the engine?
I'm almost thinking the problem may be coming from the distributor possibly. Do you have access to another you could try on there to rule it out?

 

You can have a code without turning on the CEL, especially if someone didn't wire it up right / at all. Hookup a scanner to the OBD2 port, and see if anything shows up.

 

Yeah the ckp and map sensor are next on my list as well. But yeah the cel does not turn on period. I've had the car for 4 years and it's never turned on once. I'll try tracing the wiring back and seeing if that's the issue. The ECU is correct and the distributor was replaced about a year ago, but I'll try another one

 

My car is obd1 and doesn't have a port just the green block you jump with a clip

 

Pull the instrument cluster and see if the bulb is missing from the CEL location. If it is there, remove it and then remove a "known good" plug that illuminates a light normally on the cluster, install it in the CEL location and plug the instrument cluster back in... see if the CEL works now. If so, check the codes. If not, you will have to check the continuity between the ECU and the location at the cluster as well as the ground. Good luck.